Last night's experience with the Washington State Dems party leader

[Missy Vixen]

It's taken me this long to calm down enough to post something readable, let alone cogent.

Last night I attended my district's monthly Democrats meeting. Typically, they're long, but they're not contentious. Last night's speaker was Dwight Pelz, the new Washington State Democrats chair, and it's the closest I have come to walking out of a meeting in utter anger and frustration in a long time. I know I wasn't alone.

Most who live in Washington (hell, most that live in America,) are well aware of the issues our state and national party are having with one Maria Cantwell. In other words, Maria can vote with the Republicans, but we'd better keep sending those checks to her campaign, right? Mr. Pelz informed all of us that we'll never have "the perfect candidate" and therefore, we'd better just sit down, shut up and get busy reelecting her. MULTIPLE people in the room brought up the fact that she has voted against Democratic Party interests on multiple occasions; this did not matter. She does not respond to her constituents, either. After all, he's "talked to her" and that should be good enough. We can't "make a move" till November. We MIGHT be able to address some of the things that wear through our stomach lining at that time, right?

I finally asked him if he'd volunteer to call on the next set of parents who lose a child in Iraq because we're waiting to "make our move." If he wasn't in the mood for that, perhaps he could visit the family of the first woman that dies in South Dakota as a result of a botched illegal abortion. How many more states would vote to outlaw abortion before the Democratic Party would actually stand up and fight back? This brought on a tirade that left me in shock.

Mr. Pelz informed me that if I was so interested in doing something, perhaps I'd better get on the ball and start working for and contributing to a House candidate in the 8th district of Washington State. When I commented to him that I was a lifelong Democrat, that we'd blown a hole through our budget last year writing checks to candidates, that I had been doorknocking, phone calling, leafleting and signing up voters since I was old enough to do so, he absolutely ignored my comments. The candidate in question has nothing to do with the comments I made. By implying that I have spent the past oh, 28 years sitting on my ass instead of working for the things I believe in, he figures he shut me up, hm? Amusingly enough, he departed pretty quickly after that.

I'm still shaking my head.

Julie

[DURHAM D]

1. Some of the most disconnected people I have every met were

state and county party office holders. They are often there for the glory; are often uninformed; don't really care about the issues and just want a job out of the deal.

Oh, and one other thing, they like to go to national conventions and wave at the teevee.

Sorry about your experience - stay the course.

[Nite Owl]

2. Thank you Julie

we need more like you and even if he didn't listen others surely did. They think we will meekly accept what they are doing because the repukes are so bad but they had better sit up and start listening.

[Terran1212]

3. Stand up for democracy stand up against these incumbents!

We have a 99% return rate in the Congress.

THAT. CANNOT. STAND

[gristy]

4. The flying spaghetti monster gave you a lemon last night, in the form of

Mr. Pelz, and you made lemonade! You were given an opportunity to make some very good points, and it sounds like you did not waste it.

Good job, Julie!

[freeplessinseattle]

5. Thank you for sharing, and speaking out!

what is going on with our state? how disappointing.

[northofdenali]

6. I'm glad you're you, Julie, cuz if it had been me, I'd

have imitated (with flattery) our own Skittles, and KICKED HIS ASS.

Jesus, how could you STAND it? I'd kind of understand his being prominent in the party up here, because there just aren't a lot of us; but in Washington? Jeez!

BTW, as an aside on Cantwell, Stevens, Young and Murkowski are throwing their (not inconsiderable) weight against her. Dilemma time - do we support a Dem who can win but votes against the party, or what?

Write to the folks in charge of the party in your state. Be very, very specific as to what happened, include how much you've done and how hard you've worked. At the very least I'm sure he'll get a "talking to".

Meanwhile, have a :beer: on me :hug:

[Missy Vixen]

7. Maybe I need to fly Skittles in

>our own Skittles, and KICKED HIS ASS<

Now THAT would have been a meeting ;-).

I'm just frustrated.

Julie

p.s. I'm thinking about writing to Mr. Pelz and cc'ing Howard Dean on the letter...

[northofdenali]

8. Absolutely write that letter!! Dean is trying hard to bring

the party together. He can't help with the problems if he doesn't know what they are!

PS - Skittles might pay her own way - she LOVES a good fight!!